Combined cocking device and rear sight for guns



u y F. w. WOODHULL 2,353,233

COMBINED COCKING DEVICE AND REAR SIGHT FOR GUNS Filed April 23, 1941lllmylllllllmy 1 .W IM I.

ZZ ram INVENTOR 'ecZeric/f: W W'aod'fiu Y Wm,

Patented July 11, 1944 COMBINED COCKING DEVICE AND REAR SIGHT FOR GUNSFrederick W. Woodhull, Millington, N. J., as-

signor of three per cent to Frank Hovey Roof Connell, Denning, N. Y.,two per cent to Dryden Kuser, as trustee, and one and one-half per centto Louise M. Kuser, both of Bernardsville,

Application April as, 1941, Serial No. 389,841

(cite-1c) 8 Claims.

This invention is directed particularly to a combined rear sight. andcocking device for a breech block.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of such a devicethat is so constructed and related to the breech block and stockextension that the breech block may be manually drawn to a cockedposition thereby and will automatically return the device to its normalposition upon the first movement of the breech block to its breechclosing position.

A further object of the invention resides in so correlating the partsthat the sight will'be unaffected by the subsequent movements of thebreech block to either breech closing or breech opening positions.

Another object of the invention resides in so constructing and mountingthe device that its accidental movement from normal position will beprevented. It is also an object of this invention to provide a device ofthe character referred to that may be incorporated either in new oralready constructed guns.

A still further object of the invention is to so T construct the devicethat the opening through the stock extension or receiver through whichthe connection to the breech block extends will be sealed at all timeswhen the device is in its normal position.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of thecombination and arrangement of parts set forth in the appended claims,but it is to be understood that certain changes may be made within thescope of the claims without departing from the terms or spirit thereof.

In the drawing:

7 Figure 1 is an elevation of a gun of the type wherein a reciprocablebreech block is forced to its retracted cr breech opening positionduring automatic action by the recoil of the gun, and is forced to itsbreech closing position by a mechanical means such as a spring;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the cocking means;

t Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

but partly broken away;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 3.

The gun that I have illustrated in the drawing to show the applicabilityof the invention includes a barrel l, cooling fins 2, a forward sight 3,a compensator 4, a shoulder or butt stock 5 having a forward extensionor receiver 6, a. front stock 1 and a pistol grip 8.

In the form of gun that is here illustrated the breech block 9 isslidably mounted in the stock extension 6, which acts as a receiver, andis provided with a forward extension [0 that is slidable within a recessin the front stock 1. A rod l I is secured in a forward projection ofthe stock extension 6 or receiver at l2 and projects forwardly where itis provided with a head I3 adapted to abut against a shoulder or arecess in the breech block extension In. A spring l4 surrounds the rod Habutting at its forward end against the shoulder I5 in the extension [0of the breech block, and at its rearward end against a washer l5 betweenwhich and the projection of the breech block a shock absorber 11,preferably of rubber, is interposed.

This arrangement of breech block and its actuating mechanism is similarto that disclosed in my co-pending application 338,890, filed June 5,1940. The spring [4 operates to move the breech block into its breechclosing position after it has been forced into its retracted position bythe action of the chamber pressure after firing.

The gun may be provided with an action mechanism at l8 of any desiredform, and this, too, may be of the form disclosed in said co-pendingapplication.

The combined rear-sight and cocking device includes a body portion l9that is provided with a cylindrical sight opening 29, the forward face2| of said body portion being curved. An extension 22 projects forwardlyfrom the body portion and an extension 23 rearwardly therefrom.

The body portion l9 and the extensions 22 and 23 are provided with adovetailed groove 24 in their lower faces which coacts with a track 25of complemental configuration to permit the body portion and extensionsto slide upon the rear stock extension 6 and to'keep the sight opening253 in proper alignment. This track 25 may be secured to the extension 60n the receiver by any suitable means as, for instance, by such means asscrews 21, which are illustrated.

In order that the breech block may be retracted for initial cockingagainst the action of the spring I4, I have provided the forward end ofthe extension 22 with a finger 28 which slidably engages in a notch 29in the forward upper end of the breech block 9, which notch 29 is openat its forward or breech end.

Thus when the curved surface 2| of the body portion 19 is engaged by thefinger of the operator, or when the body portion is otherwise engagedand drawn rearwardly against the action of the spring I4, the combinedsight and cocking device will move rearwardly until the finger 22engages the rear end of the slot 29. Further movement will draw thebreech block 9 rearwardly against the action of the spring l4 until thebreech block reaches its cocking position and is engaged by the detentmechanism to which I have already re- '1 ferred, the finger 28 slidingin the slot 28' which is formed in the rear stock or shoulder extension6 or in the receiver. i

When the gun is fired 'by the pulling of the trigger and the' breechblock 9 moved forwardly under the action of the spring 14 that hasbeencompressed during the rearward movement of the breech block, the breechblock will carry the sight and cooking device forwardly because of theengagement of the finger 28 in the slot 29. How- 'provided a'ilatch 3Bwhich is' pivoted at 31 on the bodyportion It. This latch carries a pawl32 that is adapted to engage in a notch 33 in the track 25 and that isnormally urged. into engaging position by aspring 34 whose tension maybe adjusted by a set screw 35. g

"This latch is also provided at the opposite end with aknurled fingerpiece 36, pressure on which will oscillate the latch about its pivot 3|and disengage the pawl 32 from the notch 33 against "th tensionof the.spring. 'This'disengaging movement'of the pawl is limited'by theengagement of a projection 31 on the latch, which projection is adaptedto engage the upper face of the track25, as indicated in Figure of thedrawing.

It' will be noted that the combined rear sight and cocking device isadapted for application to new or already constructed guns, for thebreech block, the receiver or the rear or shoulder stock extension maybe recessed to receive the finger 28 and the track '25 may be secured tothe rear stock extension or'receiver without materialalteration of thelatter. a

Moreover it is to be noted that the device will be heldsecurely inposition during the automatic reciprocation of the breech block, so thatthere wil1 be no'disturbance of the alignment of the rear sight with theforward sight.

It is also to be noted that the slot 28, through What I claim is:

1. In a gun, areceiver having a slot extending longitudinally thereof'inits upper wall; are

in the notch in the breech block when the latter is in its breechclosing position; and means for securing the rear sight and cockingdevice to the outer face of the receiver to permit it to slidelongitudinally thereof.

2. In a gun, a receiver having a slot extending longitudinally thereofin its upper wall; a reciprocable breech block in said receiver having anotch in its forward end located in registry with the slot in thereceiver; a combined rear sight and cocking device mounted on the upperface of the receiver and including an upwardly extending body portionhaving a sight opening therein, a finger projecting through the slot inthe receiver into the path of travel of the breech block, said fingerbeing adapted to engage the breech block to move it into cocked positionand to li in the notch when the breech block is in its breech closingposition; means for securing the rear sight and cocking device to theouter face of the receiver to permit itto slide longitudinally thereof;and means for lock ing the rear sight and cocking device with the fingerthereof at the forward. end of the travel of the breech block. i 3. In agun, a receiver having aslot extendin-g longitudinally thereof in itsupper wall; a reciprocable breech block in said receiver having a notchin its forward endlocated in registry with the slot in the receiver; acombined rear sight and cocking device mounted in the upper ciprocablebreech block mounted in said receiver andhavi-ng a notch in its forwardend located in registry with the slot in the receiver; a combined rearsight and cocking device mounted on the upper face of the receiver andincluding an upwardly extending body portion having a sight openingtherein, a finger projecting through the slot in the receiver intothepath of travel of the breech block and adapted to engage the breechblock to move it into cocked position and to lie face of the receiverand including an upwardly extending :body portion-having a sight openingtherein, a finger projecting through the slot in the receiver into thepath of travel of the breech block, said finger being adapted to engagethe breech block to move itlinto a cooked position and to lie in thenotch when the breech block is in its breech closing position, anextension covering th slot in the receiver except during the cookingoperation; and means for securing the rear sight and cocking device tothe outer face of the receiver to permit it to slide longitudinallythereof. 4. In a gun, av receiver having a slot extend inglongitudinally thereof in its upper wall; a reciprocable breechblock insaid receiver have ingia notch in its forward end located in registrywith the slot in the receiver; a combined rear sight and cocking devicemounted on the upper face of the receiver and including an upwardlyextending body portion having a sight opening therein, a fingerprojecting through the slot in the receiver into the path of travel ofthe breech block, said'finger being adapted to engage the breech blockto move it into a cooked position and to lie in the notch when the blockis in its breech closing position, an extension covering the slot in thereceiver except during the cooking operation; means for securingthe rearsight and cocking device to the outer face of the receiver to permit itto slide longitudinally thereof; and means for locking the rear sightand cocking device with therfinger thereon at the forward end of thetravel of the breech block.

5. In a gun, a receiver having a slot extending longitudinally thereofin its upper wall; a

. reciprocable breech block in saidireceiver hav v breech block to movethe latter into a cocked position and to be free of the breech blockwhen the latter is in its breech closing position; and means forsecuring the rear sight and cocking device to the outer face of thereceiver to permit it to slide longitudinally thereof.

6. In a gun, a receiver having a slot extending longitudinally thereofin its upper wall; a breech block in said receiver; a plate mounted onthe outer upper face of said receiver; and a combined rear sight andcocking device mounted on the upper face of the receiver and includingan upwardly extending body portion having a sight opening therein andhaving a dovetailed and sliding connection with said plate and a fingerextending through the slot in the receiver and in separable engagementwith the breech block.

7. In a gun, a receiver having a slot extending longitudinally thereofin its upper wall; a reciprocable breech block in said receiver; a platemounted on the outer upper face of said receiver; and a combined rearsight and cooking device mounted on the outer upper face of saidreceiver and including an upwardly extending body portion having a sightopening therein and having dovetailed and sliding connection with saidplate, a finger extending through the slot in said receiver and havingseparable engagement with the breech block and an extension adapted tocover the slot in the receiver except during the cocking operation.

8. In a gun, a receiver; a reciprocable breech block mounted in saidreceiver; and a combined rear sight and cooking device mounted on theupper fac of said receiver for sliding movement longitudinally thereofand having an upwardly extending body portion with a sight open-V ingtherein, and a separable connection with the breech block whereby thebreech block may be moved rearwardly to a cooked position and disengagedfrom said combined rear sight and cooking device when the latter ismoved to its forward position.

FREDERICK W. WOODI-IUIL.

